MotoGP: Marquez runs rings round rivals in Germany


Two-time defending world champion Marc Marquez's extraordinary record at the Sachsenring continued yesterday as he won the German MotoGP for only his second win of the season.

The 22-year-old Spaniard - winning his sixth race in six years on the circuit - led home Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa with championship leader Valentino Rossi third on a Yamaha.

Rossi, seeking a 10th world title and seventh in the 500cc/MotoGP category, extended his lead over team-mate Jorge Lorenzo who finished fourth to 13 points.

The championship is at the halfway mark and takes a break for three weeks with the next race the Indianapolis Grand Prix.

Early on there was little indication of what would unfold in terms of Honda's race dominance.

Rossi brought the crowd to their feet with 26 laps remaining as he eased past Pedrosa while Marquez struck back at Lorenzo overtaking him to move into the lead.

Marquez moved clear as Rossi fought out a duel with his team-mate Lorenzo, the Italian seemingly getting the better of him at the penultimate corner of the sixth lap only for the Spaniard to hit back immediately and refusing to lie down.

All this played into Marquez's hands but Rossi made no mistake a lap later to pass Lorenzo and this time the latter had no riposte leaving "Il Dottore" a free piece of tarmac to ride after the leader.